As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) forces more employees to work from home, businesses are adapting to new remote work business models as quickly and effectively as possible. Many of you are already adjusting to a workforce that performs some duties at home. Although technology makes this process easier, organizations are looking for ways to replicate their in-office culture, including moving face-to-face meetings to audio and video conference calls.
Technology-based meetings are not always the easiest to conduct, especially if you’re not accustomed to them. It can be more difficult to make sure everyone has a chance to speak up, to read body language, and/or to make sure that each attendee is paying full attention. We all know how easy it is to check email or browse online when no one can see you. So, if you conduct virtual meetings the same exact way you do in-person meetings, the result will likely be less engagement and therefore an inefficient use of your team’s time.
By following these two simple steps, you can run productive video meetings where employees remain attentive, contribute, and finish the call ready to get things done.
1. Set clear expectations.
It’s important for the leader to set basic ground rules, such as asking attendees to join the call on time, closing out email and internet browsers, keeping their video on, and muting their microphones when they are not speaking. You might consider instructing employees to raise their hands when they want to contribute or ask questions. Setting clear expectations sets the tone for your team to be engaged, and shows that you respect their time and perspective.2. Focus on dialogue and interactions.
During your virtual meeting, you’ll be sharing information just like you would in a face-to-face meeting. The information flow should be two-way — it is essential to encourage questions and discussion from all attendees. When planning the meeting, structure the agenda to discourage any one person from dominating the conversation. Predetermine which team members might be subject matter experts with information valuable to the group.- The Current State: Where is our practice now and how are we preparing to come out of the pandemic?
- The Future State: Where is the industry headed and what’s our company vision for how we will thrive?
- The “New” Customer: How do we prepare for customers who may think differently about their needs and expectations? How will they define value?
- The Comeback Plan: What are our steps to get back on track, and what are the expectations for each team member’s contributions moving forward?
- Goals for 2020: What are the revised annual targets, and how do we plan to ramp up and recover lost business?
- KPI Tracking: What are the key indicators that identify how we’re tracking progress toward our desired goals?
- Mindset: How do we need to change the way we think about how we do our jobs?
- Individual Productivity: How do we increase and track productivity while maintaining high levels of patient care?
- Training: How do we ensure each staff member continues to develop his/her skills to be as efficient as possible while prioritizing patient care?
Consistency of communication is critical, so you should hold these meetings on a routine basis. Partner with your CQ Account Manager to develop a schedule that works best for you and your team.
In future Company Meetings, revisit the same themes:
- Discuss industry updates and the impact on the business
- Reinforce the importance of what you do for patients
- Reinforce the emergence of the “new” patient and his/her changing expectations
- Emphasize what the goals are and how the practice is performing against those goals
- Review your comeback plan and adjust as necessary
- Emphasize everyone’s role in achieving the plan
- Motivate your staff to reach the practice’s goals together as a team
As Owners and leaders, communication with your team is the most important element in helping your staff work through this crisis. Their lives have changed and they’re looking to you to lead them through the uncertainty. Their ability to handle anxiety and fear about the future is affected by what you say and how you act in navigating through an uncertain future. Right now, your words must lead to action. Now more than ever, your staff needs to know the “why” behind what they do to give purpose to their work and exemplary service to your patients.
If you have any questions about how to effectively conduct your Company Meetings, reach out to your Account Manager for guidance!
